Ethiopia’s Lemecha a strong contender for 11th Continental Tour Gold meeting in Ostrava

Addis Ababa, April 25, 2023 (FBC) – Ethiopian long and middle-distance runner Lemecha Girma and Nigeria’s Tobi Amusan will join their fellow world record-holder Mondo Duplantis at the Ostrava Golden Spike on 27 June, at the 11th World Athletics Continental Tour Gold meeting of the season.

It is to be recalled that Lemecha Girma clocked 7:58.68 to break the Ethiopian 3000m steeplechase record when he raced in Ostrava last year and he will return to contest the Emil Zatopek Memorial 1500m in 2023.

Since that steeplechase performance in Ostrava, Lemecha has won a second world silver medal in Oregon and he broke the world indoor 3000m record at the World Indoor Tour Gold meeting in Lievin in February, running 7:23.81.

The 1500m meeting record stands at 3:31.17, while the Ethiopian record is 3:29.91. Lemecha Girma ran his personal best of 3:33.77 in 2020.

“I am happy to return to the Ostrava Golden Spike meeting this year to try and run a very fast 1500m time,” he said. “Ostrava is a good track and event for me, and I look forward to seeing the fans again and using their energy to push myself beyond my limits and run a time to make everyone proud.”